Donald C. "Don" ELFVING

Don was born, raised and educated in California. His family owned and operated a small walnut ranch near Walnut Creek, CA.
He completed a B.S. in Botany and an M.S in Horticulture at the University of California, Davis (UCD).

After completing the M.S degree, Don took a position in Chile, where he spent a year working for the UCD Dept. of Pomology in a cooperative project in tree fruit education and development in cooperation with the University of Chile.

Following his return from Chile, Don enrolled in the University of California at Riverside, completing a doctorate in Plant Physiology in 1971.

After completing his education, Don was employed as an Assistant Professor and later Associate Professor in the Dept. of Pomology at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY for 8 years.
While at Cornell Don participated in research, extension and teaching in the area of apple orchard management horticulture and physiology.

In 1979 Don accepted a position with the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario as Senior Research Pomologist, based at the apple research facility in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.
He carried out research and extension programs in apple orchard management and production physiology until 1991, when he was promoted to Manager, Research Programs at the Vineland headquarters facility.

In October, 1993 Don joined Washington State University at the Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center, Wenatchee.
Don served four years as Superintendent of that facility, returning to a full-time faculty research position in November, 1997.

Since then Don has been involved in a variety of research projects:
Exploring the physiological and horticultural benefits of bioregulator products on tree growth.
Productivity and postharvest fruit quality management in apple, pear and sweet cherry.
Developing recommendations for their effective use by fruit growers.
In March, 1998, Don met his future wife, Dusti, through Rotary. Dusti owns and operates Express Personnel Services in Wenatchee. They were married in August, 1998 and are experiencing a wonderful life together. They both enjoy gardening in their yard, good music, traveling (when the rare opportunity arises), and dining out.

Don has acquired a step-daughter, step-son and three step-granddaughters through his marriage to Dusti. Two of the granddaughters now reside with their mother in Wenatchee and are a constant source of pleasure and satisfaction to both Dusti and Don.

Stan Hoyt sponsored Don into the Wenatchee Rotary Club in 1994. Since then Don has served on the Program Committee and has chaired:

• Ways and Means Committee
• Program Committee
• Classification Committee (current Chair)

Don has also participated in Rotary projects and activities such as Lincoln Park and Ridge to River. He says, "I enjoy very much the fellowship of Rotary and the opportunity Rotary provides to engage in service to the community."

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